Door-operating device.



, G. ALTER.

.1 noon OPERATING DEVICE.

APILIOATIOH FILED HAY 28,1910.

Patented May 30, 1911.

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DOOR OPERATING DEVICE.

nrmom'mn FILED HAY 28,1910.

993,941 Patented May 30,1911.

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J A 1" i W/TNESSES: awn/roe AITORNEYS G. ALTER.

DOOR OPERATING DEVIGE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 2s,1a10

993,941 Patented May 30,1911.

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WITNESSES" INVEN TOR a; ig 1512201 filter ATTORNEYS U. ALTER.

DOOR OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY28,1910.

Patented May 30, 1911.

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INVENTOR 0111mm filia- ATTORNEYS G. ALTER 1100a ornnnma nnvmn.

APPLICATION FILED HAY 28,1910.

' Patented May 30, 1911.

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gfirz'siz'an filter ATTORNEYS CHRISTIAN ALTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DOOR-OPERATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1911.

Application filed May 28, 1910. Serial No. 563,862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CI-IRISTIAN ALTER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedDoor-Operating Device, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improveddoor-operating device, more especially designed for use on doors ofstores and other buildings, and arranged to permit a person carryingbundles, packages or the like, or being otherwise encumbered, to unlockor open the door by pressure of the foot and without the use of thehand, to hold the door in an open position for a sufficient length oftime to allow the person to conveniently pass through the open doorway,and to insure self closing and locking of the door after the person haspassed through the doorway.

For the purpose mentioned, use is made of a main spring adapted to beplaced under tension by manually-controlled means ar ranged on the door,the latter being connected by connecting means with the said spring atthe time the spring is under tension, to swing the door open by theforce of the spring.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying draw ings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indi cate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a door, provided with the door-operatingdevice, the door being closed and in locked position, and the cover forthe device being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionalplan view of the same on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a like viewof the same, showing the door partly open and the re taining nut andwasher for the releasing and stop arm removed; Fig. 4 is an enlargedcross section of the same on the line H of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a similarview of the same on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is an enlarged planview of the self-closing device for the door, the latter being in aclosed position and the door casing being shown in section; Fig. 7 isalike view of the same showing the parts in position when the door ispartly open; Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, ofthe temporary locking device for the door, to hold the latter locked inclosed position while placing the main spring under tension; Fig. 9 isan enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism foroperating the door lock; Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the pedalmechanism as applied to the door, the latter, the cover and part of onepedal being shown in section; Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross section ofone of the pedals, the section being on the line 1111 of Fig. 10; andFig. 12 is an end view of the same.

The door A, on which the door-operating device is shown applied, isconnected by hinges A with the door easing A and the door lock, of theusual construction, serves to hold the door locked in a closed position.A two-arm pedal mechanism B is mounted on the door in such a manner thatit can be actuated by the pressure of the foot of a per son, either fromthe inside or the outside of the door, as will be readily understood byreference to Fig. 10. The shaft B' of the cloublearm pedal mechanism Bextends transversely and is journaled in suitable bearings in the lowercross bar of the door A, and from the ends of the said shaft B extendthe two arms of the pedal mecha nism B on opposite faces of the door,each arm carrying a pedal B adapted to be engaged by the foot of theperson desiring to open the door and to pass through the open doorway,either into or outof the building as the case may be. On the shaft B ofthe double pedal mechanism B is secured an angular arm B pressed on atone end by a spring 0, so as to normally hold the pedal mechanism B inan uppermost position, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1, the upwardmovement of the pedal mechanism B being limited by a stop C attached tothe door and engaged by the arm B When a pedal B is pressed downwardthen the spring 0 is placed under tension, and when the pedal isreleased then the spring G returns the pedal mechanism to its normaluppermost position, as indicated in Fig. 1. The arm B is connected withone end, of a rod D, connected at its other end with a chain D passingover guide pulleys E, E journaled on abracket E attached to the door Anear the hinge end thereof. The chain D, after leaving the guide pulleyE extends to and is attached to an arm F mounted to turn loosely on avertical spindle Gr, journaled in a bracket H secured to the door casingA adjacent the hinge end of the door A, as plainly indicated in Fig. l.A torsion main spring I is coiled around the spindle G and is secured atone end to the said spindle and at the other end to the arm F, so thatwhen the pedal mechanism B is pressed downward in the direction of thearrow a then the rod D and chain D exert a pull on the arm F, thusswinging the latter to the left in the direction of the arrow 12 (seeFig. 2), whereby the arm F carries the upper end of the spring I alongthus placing the spring I under tension.

The arm F normally rests on a releasing and stop arm J, rearwardly heldon the bracket H and provided with a polygonal opening J engaging acorrespondingly shaped offset G on the main spring spindle G, to holdthe latter against turning (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4c). The arm J isprovided at its inner end with a lug J abutting against the side edge ofthe bracket H, and the outer end of the arm J is provided with a cushionJ 3 for the free end of the spring arm F to rest on, and the top of thesaid outer end of the arm F is adapted to be engaged by the beveled headK of a catch K, fulcrumed at K on the bracket E. The catch K normallystands in a horizontal position at right angles to the face of the doorand is in the path of the free end of the spring arm F, to hook onto thelatter at the time the said spring arm F is swung from its position ofrest on the cushion J to the left by a pull of the chain D caused by aperson pressing the pedal mechanism B downward, as previously explained.Thus when the spring arm F is engaged with the catch K, the door A isconnected with the main spring I, now under suflicient tension to pullthe door into an open position. The upper end of the spindle G isprovided with a reduced threaded portion G on which screws a nut G forholding the arm J in position on the polygonal portion G of the spindleG.

The arm B of the pedal mechanism B is connected by a link L having astop nut l with a lever L fulcrumed at L on a bracket L attached to thedoor A near the lower end thereof, and the said lever L is pressed on bya spring L", and its lower end is adapted to engage a notched member Lattached to the door sill A. The link L has a sliding connection withthe lever L, and when the pedal mechanism B is pressed in the directionof the arrow (1, than the. link T, slides in the lever L now held inengagement with the keeper L by the action of the'spring L so that thedoor A is held locked for the time being, but when the pedal mechanism Bis released and returns to its uppermost position by the action of thespring C, then a pull is exerted on the lever L by the link L, to swingthe lever L out of engagement with the notched member L thus unlockingthe door and allowing the same to swing open by the action of the springI, as previously explained.

The pedal mechanism B when pressed downward into a lowermost position isadapted to engage an arm N, pivoted at its end on a plate N attachedtothe door A near the free lower corner thereof, as

plainly indicated in Fig. 1, and the arm N is loosely engaged by thelower end of a link N pivotally connected at its upper end with an arm Nsecured to or forming part of the spindle of the lock A so that when thepedal mechanism B is swung downward in the direction of the arrow a thena like downward swinging motion is given to the arm N by the pedal arm,and consequently a downward pull is exerted on the link N which causesthe arm N to turn the spindle of the lock A thus withdrawing the lockbolt from the keeper in the door casing A and hence unlocking the door.The arm N when swung downward is temporarily locked in a lowermostposition by the action of a catch 0, fulcrumed at O on the plate N andextending with its beveled head into a notch N formed in the arm N, asplainly indicated in Fig. 9. An arm 0 is fulcrumed at O and is adaptedto engage a cam 0 attached to the door sill A, and the said arm 0 ispressed on by a spring 0, attached to the plate N, and a spring 0attached to the catch 0 bears on the arm 0 Thus when the arm N is swungdownward by the pedal mechanism, as previously mentioned, thespring-pressed catch 0 engages the arm N and locks the same in itslower- 'most position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, and whenthe door is subsequently swung open then the arm 0 glides down on thecam 0 and in doing so releases the catch 0 from the arm N, to allow thelatter and the door lock spindle and bolt to return to normal position.so that when the door is subsequently closed the door lock bolt againsnaps into engagement with the keeper in the casing A The pedalmechanism B on one side of the door, as well as the link D, part of thechain D, the locking mechanism for the door and the mechanism foroperating the door lock are preferably inclosed in a cover P, secured tothe face of the door A, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and infull lines in Fig. 10, the cover having a slot- P for the projection ofthe pedal spindle B, so that the pedal B is outside of the cover forengagement by the foot of a person. In practice, it is preferred to holdeach pedal 13 in a horizontal position on the spindle B, and for thispurpose use is made of a spring Q, secured at Q in a recess B, formed inthe outer end of the pedal B the free ends of the spring Q engagingnotches 13 formed near the ends of the spindle B, as plainly indicatedin Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

In order to close the door A after the person has passed through thedoorway, use is made of the self-closing device shown more clearly inFigs. 1, 6 and 7, and arranged as follows: A spring R extends lengthwiseon the top cross bar of the door casing A and is connected by a chain Rwith a pin R at tached to the door casing, and to the other end of thespring R is secured a chain R which passes around a guide roller Sjournaled in a bracket S attached to the door casing A near the hingeend of the door A, as plainly indicated in the drawings. The chain It ispivotally connected with an arm T, fulcrumed at T on a cam U, having ashaft U journaled in the bracket S. A chain V is secured at one end at Vto the peripheral face of the cam U adjacent to the fulcrum T, and thischain V extends around the peripheral face of the cam U and connectswith the free end of an arm IV, fulcrumed at W on a bracket X, attachedto the door A. A screw W screws the arm W against the bracket X, so asto permit the adjusting of the said arm W on the bracket X. Now when thedoor is closed, the several parts of the self-closing device are in theposition indicated in Figs. 1 and 6, and when the door is opened by theaction of the spring I, then the spring R is gradually placed undertension, as the chain V imparts a turning motion to the cam U during theopening of the door A (see Fig. 7), and in doing so the arm T is carriedalong by the cam U and exerts a ull on the chain R. The spring R isconsiderably weaker than the spring I, and consequently the spring R isplaced under tension during the opening movement of the door A, and whenthe door swings into full, open position the catch K is lifted by thearm J out of engagement with the arm F, and consequently the spring Ireturns to its normal position while the door A is disconnected from thespring. The tension of the spring R now exerts a pull on the arm T heldagainst the fulcrum end of the cam U, so that the door is pulled into aclosed position. The pull of the chain It on the arm T is easy at first,and when the cam U has turned sufficiently far around to disengage thearm T from the fulcrum end of the cam U, then a quick pull is exerted onthe arm T, to draw the latter into the position shown in Fig. 6, wherebythe leverage of the arm T is increased and consequently the door isquickly and firmly shut. The arm T is preferably made triangular toconnect the end of the chain It with either free corner thereof, toincrease the leverage more or less as desired, it being understood thatthe tension of the spring It may also be increased by correspondinglyadjusting the chain R on the pin R The operation is as follows: When theseveral parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and a person oneither side of the door A presses the corresponding pedal B then adownward swinging motion is given to the pedal, whereby the chain Dexerts a pull on the arm F, thus placing the spring I under tension anddrawing the arm F in engage-v ment with the catch K, to connectthe door'A with the spring I. At the same time that this takes place the lock Aof the door is unlocked, and the lock A is held in an unlocked positionby the catch 0 engaging the arm N, as previously mentioned, but the dooris still held locked by the lever L engaging the notched keeper L Nowwhen a person removes the foot from the pedal B the pedal mechanism Bswings back into its uppermost position by the action of the spring G,and in doing so the lever L is moved out of engagement with the keeper Lso that the door is completely unlocked, and the spring I now pulls thedoor A into an open position. It is understood that during the returnmovement of the pedal mechanism B, the person has sufiicient time tomove out of the way of the door, so that the latter can swing completelyinto open position, and the person can walk through the open doorwaywithout being required to move a hand. When the door A swings into theopen position, the keeper K comes in contact with the top of the arm J,and is thus lifted out of engagement with the arm F, to release the armF and thus allow the spring I to return to normal position and with itthe arm F to limit the turning movement of the spring by abuttingagainst the cushion J During the time the door A is swung open, thespring R is placed under tension, as previously explained, and as soonas the door is disconnected from the spring I, the tension of the springR exerts a pull 011 the actuating mechanism connected with the door, aspreviously explained, so that the door is moved into a closed position.When the door swings open, the arm 0 travels down the cam 0 to disengagethe catch 0 from the arm N, to allow the lock A to assume its normalposition. When the door moves into a closed position, the arm 0 travelsup the cam 0 and in doing so the catch 0 is moved back into the positionshown in Fig. 9.

The tension of the spring I can be increased or diminished to suit thedoor A, and for this purpose it is necessary to turn the spindle G, thelower end of which is provided with a polygonal portion G for thereception of a wrench or other suitable tool to permit turning thespindle G. In order to do this it is necessary first to remove the nut Gand the arm J, and after the spindle G has been turned, to give thedesired tension to the spring I, then the arm J and the nut G arereturned so as to hold the spindle G against turning.

It is understood that by the construction shown and described, a personon either side of the door, by simply pressing a pedal B downward andthen releasing it, causes automatic unlocking of the door and swingingthe door open, so that the person can pass through the open doorway inor out of the building, as the case may be, and without requiring theuse of a hand or the hands. Now it is evident that a person havingbundles or being otherwise encumbered can readily open the door withoutthe use of the hands used for carrying the bundles and the like at thetime, it being understood that the door is held in open position for asuflicient length of time to allow the person to conveniently passthroughthe open doorway, after which the door is closed by theself-closing mechanism and locked against accidental opening.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring,manually-controlled means for placing the spring under tension, andconnecting means connecting the door with the spring at the time themain spring is under tension to swing the door open by the force of thespring.

2. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring,manually-controlled means for placing the spring under tension,connecting means connecting the door with the spring at the time themain spring is under tension to swing the door open by the force ofthespring, and releasing means for releasing the said connecting meansto disc-onnect the latter from the main spring and allow the door toswing shut.

3. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring,manually-controlled means for placing the spring under tension,connecting means connecting the door with the spring at the time themain spring is under tension to swing the door open by the force of thespring, releasing means for releasing the said connecting means todisconnect the latter from the main spring and allow the door to swingshut, and a spring-controlled closing device for the door, the spring ofthe said closing device being placed under tension while the door isopened by the said main spring.

4. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring,manually-controlled means for placing the spring under tension,connecting means connecting the door with the spring at the time themain spring is under tension to swing the door open by the force of thespring, and an unlocking device con trolled by the saidmanually-controlled means for unlocking the door at the time the saipilmanually-controlled means are actuate 5. A door-operating device,comprising a main spring, manually-controlled means for placing thespring under tension, connecting means connecting the door with thespring at the time the main spring is under tension to swing the dooropen by the forceof the spring, and a door-locking device controlled bythe said manually-controlled means to lock the door temporarily againstopening until the said manually-controlled means have returned tostarting position.

6. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring mounted on the doorcasing adjacent to the hinge side of the door, a pedal mechanism on thedoor and connected with the said main spring to place the latter undertension on pressing the pedal mechanism, and a catch on the door adaptedto engage the said spring at the time the main spring is under tensionto swing the door open by the force of the said main spring.

7. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring mounted on the doorcasing adjacent to the hinge side of the door, a pedal mechanism on thedoor and connected with the said main spring to place the latter undertension on pressing the pedal mechanism, a catch on the door adapted toengage the said spring at the time the main spring is under tension toswing the door open by the force of the said main spring, and a fixedreleasing device for engagement by the said catch to disengage thelatter from the spring at the time the door reaches an open position. 8.A door-operating device, comprising a main spring mounted on the doorcasing adjacent to the hinge side of the door, a pedal mechanism on thedoor and connected with the said main spring to place the latter undertension on pressing the pedal mechanism, a catch on the door adapted toengage the said spring at the time the main spring is under tension toswing the door open by the force of the said main spring, and aspring-pressed door-closing device having a spring weaker than the saidmain spring and placed under tension while the door is swung open by thesaid main spring.

9. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring mounted on the doorcasing adjacent to the hinge side of the door, a pedal mechanism on thedoor and connected with the said main spring to place the latter undertension on pressing the pedal mechanism, a catch on the door adapted toengage the said spring at the time the main spring is under tension toswing the door open by the force of the said main spring, and aspring-pressed door-closing device having a spring weaker than the saidmain spring and placed under tension while the door is swung open by thesaid main spring, the said door-closing device having graduating meansfor varylng the tension of the said weaker spring.

10. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring mounted on thedoor casing adjacent to the hinge side of the door, a pedal mechanism onthe door and connected with the said main spring to place the latterunder tension on pressing the pedal mechanism, a catch on the dooradapted to engage the said spring at the time the main sprin is undertension to swing the door open y the force of the said main spring, akeeper fixed adjacent to the door, and a lever on the door adapted toengage the said keeper, the said lever being connected with the saidpedal mechanism.

11. A door-operating device, comprising a main spring mounted on thedoor casing adjacent to the hinge side of the door, a pedal mechanism onthe door and connected with the said main spring to place the latterunder tension on pressing the pedal mechanism, a catch on the dooradapted to engage the said spring at the time the main sprin is undertension to swing the door open y the force of the said main spring, andan unlocking device on the door and controlled by the said pedalmechanism, the said unlocking device being connected with the door lock.

12. A door-operating device, comprising a pedal lever fulcrumed on thedoor and provided with pedals on opposite sides of the door, a torsionmain sprin mounted on the door casing adjacent to t e hinge side of thedoor, one end of the said main spring being fixed, an arm on the freeend of the said main spring, a flexible connection between the saidpedal lever and the said spring arm to place the main spring undertension on pressing the pedal lever, and a catch on the door and adaptedto engage the said spring arm to connect the door with the main springat the time the latter is under tension.

13. A door-o crating device, comprising a pedal lever ulcrumed on thedoor and provided with pedals on opposite sides of the door, a torsionmain sprin mounted on the door casing adjacent to the hinge side of thedoor, one end of the said main spring being fixed, an arm on the freeend of the said main spring, a flexible connection between the saidpedal lever and the said spring arm to place the main spring undertension on pressin the pedal lever, a catch on the door and a apted toengage the said spring arm to connect the door with the main spring atthe time the latter is under tension, and a releasing arm fixed on thedoor casing and adapted to be engaged by the said catch to throw thelatter out of engagement with the spring arm at the time the door isopen.

14. A door-o erating device, comprisin a pedal lever ulcrumed on thedoor an provided with pedals on opposite sides of the door, a torsionmain spring mounted on the door casing adjacent to the hinge side of thedoor, one end of the said mam spring being fixed, an arm on the free endof the said main spring, a flexible connec tion between the said pedallever and the said spring arm to place the main spring under tension onpressing the pedal lever, a catch on the door and adapted to engage thesaid spring arm to connect the door with the said main spring at thetime the latter is under tension, and a releasing arm fixed on the doorcasing and adapted to be engaged by the said catch to throw the latterout of engagement with the spring arm at the time the door is open, thesald releasing arm having a cushion for the said spring arm to restagainst to limit the return movement of the spring arm.

15. A door-operating devlce, comprisin a pedal lever fulcrumed on thedoor an provided with edals on opposite sides of the door, a torsionmain spring mounted on the door casing adjacent to the hinge side of thedoor, one end of the said main spring being fixed, an arm on the freeend of the said main spring, a flexible connection between the saidpedal lever and the said spring arm to place the main spring undertension on pressin the pedal lever, a catch on the door and a apted toengage the said spring arm to connect the door with the main spring atthe time the latter is under tension, and a spring for the said pedallever to return the latter to normal raised position.

16. A door-o crating device, comprisin a pedal lever ulcrumed on thedoor and provided with pedals on opposite sides of the door, a torsionmain spring mounted on the door casing adjacent to the hinge side of thedoor, one end of the said mam spring being fixed, an arm on the free endof the said main spring, a flexible connection between the said pedallever and the said spring arm to place the main spring under tension onpressin the pedal lever, a catch on the door and adapted to engage thesaid spring arm to connect the door with the main spring at the time thelatter is under tension, a spring for the said pedal lever to return thelatter to normal raised position, a notched kee er fixed on the doorsill, and a temporary ocking lever mounted on the door and connectedwith the said pedal lever to throw the said locking lever temporarilyinto engagement with the said notched keeper when pressing the pedallever.

17. A door-operating device, comprising a pedal lever i ulcrumed on thedoor and provided with pedals on opposite sides of the door, a torsionmain spring mounted on the door casing adjacent to the hinge side of thedoor, one end of the said main spring being fixed, an arm on the freeend of the said main spring, a flexible connection between the saidpedal lever and the said spring arm to place the main spring undertension on pressing the pedal lever, a catch on the door and adapted toengage the said spring arm to connect the door with the main spring atthe time the latter is under tension, a spring for the said pedal leverto return the latter to normal raised position, an arm fulcrumed on thedoor and adapted to be pressed by the said pedal lever at the time thelatter nears its lowermost position, an arm on the door lock spindle,and a link connecting the said arms with each other.

18. A door-operating device, comprising a pedal lever fulcrumed on thedoor and provided with pedals on opposite sides of the door, a torsionmain spring mounted on the door casing adjacent to the hinged side ofthe door, one end of the said main spring be ing fixed, an arm on thefree end of the said main spring, a flexible connection between the saidpedal lever and the said spring arm to place the main spring undertension on passing the pedal lever, a catch on the door and adapted toengage the said spring arm to connect the door with the main spring atthe time the latter is under tension, a spring for the said pedal leverto return the latter to normal raised position, an arm fulcrumed on thedoor and adapted to be pressed by the said pedal lever at the time thelatter nears the lowermost position, an arm on the door lock spindle, alink connecting the said arms with each other, a spring-pressed catch onthe door for engaging the said door arm, and a cam face fixed on thedoor sill for holding the said spring-pressed catch in active positionuntil the door is opened.

19. A door-operating device provided with a spring-pressed pedal levermounted on the door, an arm on the door lock spindle, an arm fulcrumedon the door and adapted to be engaged by the said pedal lever to rockthe same, a link connecting the said arms with each other, and means forlocking the fulcrumed arm when swung downwardly by the pedal lever.

20. A door-operating device, provided with a spring-pressed pedal levermounted on the door, an arm on the door lock spindle, an arm fulcrumedon the door and adapted to be engaged by the said pedal lever, a linkconnecting the said arms with each other, a spring-pressed catch on thedoor for engagement with the said door arm, and a cam iace fixed on thedoor sill and adapted to be engaged by the said spring-pressed catch tohold the latter in position for engagement with the said door arm.

21. A door-operating device, provided with a pedal mechanism on thedoor, a main spring on the door casing and adapted to be placed undertension by the said pedal. mechanism, a connecting device connecting thedoor with the said main spring at the time the latter is under tension,a releasing device for the said connecting device, and a self-closingdevice for the door having a spring weaker than the said main springand;

connected at one end to the door casing, and adjustable arm mounted onthe door adjacent to the hinge end thereof, a cam mount ed to turn onthe door casing, a chain passing around the said cam and attached at oneend to the cam and at the other to the said adjustable arm, acompensating lever mounted to swing on the said cam, and a flexibleconnection between the said compensating lever and the said weak spring.

22. A door-operating device, provided with a spring attached at one endto the door casing, a chain connected with the other end of the saidspring, a bracket on the door casing adjacent *to the hinge end of thedoor, a pulley on the bracket for the said chain, a cam mounted to turnon the said bracket, a compensating lever fulcrumed on the said cam andconnected with the other end of the said spring, an adjustable arm onthe door, and a flexible connection attached at one end to the saidadjustable arm passing around theil said cam and secured thereto at theother en 23. A door-operating device, provided with a bracket on thedoor casing adjacent to the hinge end of the door, a spindle mounted toturn in the said bracket, a torsion spring coiled around the saidspindle and secured at one end to the said spindle, an arm mounted toturn loosely on the said spindle and connected with the end of the saidspring, a releasing and stop arm engaging the said bracket and having apolygonal opening engaging a polygonal portion of the said spindle tohold the latter against turning, the said releasing and stop arm forminga stop for the said spring arm, a pedal lever on the door, and aflexible connection between the said pedal lever and the said springarm.

24. A door-operating device provided with a bracket on the door casingadjacent to the hinge end of the door, a spindle mounted to turn in thesaid bracket, a torsion spring coiled around the said spindle andsecured at one end to the said spindle, an arm mounted to turn looselyon the said spindle and connected with the other end of the said spring,a releasing and stop arm engaging the said bracket and having apolygonal opening engaging a polygonal portion of the said spindle tohold the latter against turning, the said releasing and stop arm forminga stop for the said spring arm, a pedal lever on the door, a bracket onthe door having guide pulleys, a flexible connection passing over thesaid guide pulleys and connecting the said pedal lever with the saidspring arm, and a catch i fulcruined on the said door bracket andadapted to engage the said spring arm to connect the door With thespring, the said catch being adapted to engage the said releasing andstop arm to disengage the catch from the spring arm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHRISTIAN ALTER.

Witnesses:

JACOB SoHNELLBAoH, FREDERICK GRAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

